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The Chillicothe City Council tied up loose ends on various ordinances and projects at its Monday night meeting.
While Chillicothe is the home of the IVC Grey Ghosts, the city’s median in the 300 block of Walnut Street, will become home to an 8-foot wooden Grey Ghost carving. Chainsaw artist Tim Gill will carve and donate the ghost.
Alderwoman Judy Cantwell said Gill is deciding on the wood needed for the project, which will need to be 10 feet when he starts the project.
Additionally, she said, the arms will be different pieces of wood.
Gill also carved the eagle on the Chillicothe riverfront.
The council also approved ordinances that have been in the works under former alderman Rich Underwood, also judicial committee chairman, who finished his aldermanic term May 9.
Approved were three ordinances: setting up regulations on wind energy conversion systems; clarifying language about fences, which allows the pool ordinance to supercede the maximum fence height for side yards; and creating teeth to enforce the city’s zoning in cases when a resident builds a second home on his lot with plans to demolish or move the first home.
In other items, the council:
• Approved extending the city’s burn days, which normally ends in May, an additional three weeks until June 18. The days and hours will remain the same. Mayor Troy Childers Sr. said some residents asked for the burning to be extended due to the wet spring.
• Had a first reading of the appropriations ordinance. A public hearing will be at 6:45 p.m. June 13.
• Was reminded of the groundbreaking ceremony June 1 for the new CEFCU center, to be built near its current building on Fourth Street.
• Approved paying Ray Yarger $800 for removing the playground equipment from Santa Fe Park. The equipment was moved to a RiverSound subdivision park, which is in the process of becoming a city park. Developer Jim Paul is expected to convey the land in the near future, according to aldermen.
• Approved a notice for special event held on public property for the Chillicothe Rugby Football Club to use City Park from 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 3 to celebrate the rugby club’s season and possible state championship. Alderman Danny Colwell said while city officials do not mind allowing groups to use city parks, residents do need to remember the city asks for a 30-day notice.
• Authorized Chillicothe Police Chief Steve Maurer to attend the Illinois Police Chiefs convention June 24-26 in Champaign and approved an advance expenditure of $500. Police/fire committee chairwoman Judy Cantwell said the convention was one Maurer needed to attend to continue his certification.
The Chillicothe City Council tied up loose ends on various ordinances and projects at its Monday night meeting.
While Chillicothe is the home of the IVC Grey Ghosts, the city’s median in the 300 block of Walnut Street, will become home to an 8-foot wooden Grey Ghost carving. Chainsaw artist Tim Gill will carve and donate the ghost.
Alderwoman Judy Cantwell said Gill is deciding on the wood needed for the project, which will need to be 10 feet when he starts the project.
Additionally, she said, the arms will be different pieces of wood.
Gill also carved the eagle on the Chillicothe riverfront.
The council also approved ordinances that have been in the works under former alderman Rich Underwood, also judicial committee chairman, who finished his aldermanic term May 9.
Approved were three ordinances: setting up regulations on wind energy conversion systems; clarifying language about fences, which allows the pool ordinance to supercede the maximum fence height for side yards; and creating teeth to enforce the city’s zoning in cases when a resident builds a second home on his lot with plans to demolish or move the first home.
In other items, the council:
• Approved extending the city’s burn days, which normally ends in May, an additional three weeks until June 18. The days and hours will remain the same. Mayor Troy Childers Sr. said some residents asked for the burning to be extended due to the wet spring.
• Had a first reading of the appropriations ordinance. A public hearing will be at 6:45 p.m. June 13.
• Was reminded of the groundbreaking ceremony June 1 for the new CEFCU center, to be built near its current building on Fourth Street.
• Approved paying Ray Yarger $800 for removing the playground equipment from Santa Fe Park. The equipment was moved to a RiverSound subdivision park, which is in the process of becoming a city park. Developer Jim Paul is expected to convey the land in the near future, according to aldermen.
• Approved a notice for special event held on public property for the Chillicothe Rugby Football Club to use City Park from 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 3 to celebrate the rugby club’s season and possible state championship. Alderman Danny Colwell said while city officials do not mind allowing groups to use city parks, residents do need to remember the city asks for a 30-day notice.
• Authorized Chillicothe Police Chief Steve Maurer to attend the Illinois Police Chiefs convention June 24-26 in Champaign and approved an advance expenditure of $500. Police/fire committee chairwoman Judy Cantwell said the convention was one Maurer needed to attend to continue his certification.
• Approved paying $816 to Riverside Chevrolet to repair the air conditioning on one of the police vehicles.
• Heard Cantwell say that Maurer was not able to attend the council meeting as he was meeting with K-9 officers at Three Sisters Park in preparation for Summer Camp this weekend. Five dogs will work the area, she said, and all the plans are in place for security not only for the camp but also for the Zac Brown Band concert June 10.
• Heard Cantwell say the police/fire committee is looking to add a part-time officer and start a quest for the department’s ninth officer again. In the past, the department has had a ninth officer, but usually due to officers leaving and then budget constraints, a ninth officer is not hired again. Additionally, she said Chillicothe Fire Chief John Myers is checking into donating the city’s old aerial ladder, as suggested by John Sprinkle, to one of the fire departments in Joplin, Mo., which had some of its equipment decimated in the tornado.
• Approved six sidewalk program applications for Frederick Armentrout of 1127 Beech St. for $1,000; Bob Koerner of 418 Second St. for $1,000; Lloyd Passage of 623 Second St. for $800; Earl Witte of 1625 Santa Fe Ave. for $1,000; Chris Lauber of 1322 Santa Fe Ave. for $1,000; and Calvary Baptist of 1028 Cloverdale Road for $710. The program opened with $20,000, and with these applications, reduced the available grant money to almost $14,500. The program assists homeowners in sharing the cost of building or maintaining a sidewalk. Applications and information are available at City Hall.
• Approved amending the city’s meter reading contract with meter reader Jennifer Payne by making her monthly compensation from $1,000 to $1,050 per month beginning in June.
• Approved a priority one project of buying an alley grader for $3,600 to DoMor Equipment for a tongue pulled grader.
• Adopted a resolution appropriating $172,000 of Motor Fuel Tax funds to maintain street and highways in 2011. Childers said many streets need work, but some will have to wait until next year due to funds.
